UBUC

Computers

All but two of the current Suunto dive computers have user replacable batteries. If you have a Stinger or Favor S, you need to send it off somewhere or other and have them change the battery. For the Mosquito, D3, Vytec, Cobra and Vyper you can change the battery yourself but Suunto recommend that you get an authorised dealer to do it. This removes the possibility of you forgetting to replace something like an o-ring and the dealer will usually pressure test your computer to ensure it is in full working condition. For a Vyper, this costs £30 last time I checked and includes the new battery and new o-ring.

With the Vyper, replacing the battery yourself is actually pretty easy, takes less then 5 minutes and unless you are a total muppet, its hard to get it wrong. The big advantages of doing this yourself is the replacement battery costs £2.50 and there is no sending off the computer, useful when in the middle of nowhere on a dive trip.

Removing the battery will loose decompression information if you are de-saturating. You will have to take a day off to fully desaturate if you change your battery mid-dive trip. Log book and History is not effected by replacing the battery.

 Model : Mosquito
Battery Type: CR2032

Model : Vyper, Vytec, Cobra, Gekko
Battery Type: CR2450

These batteries are available at Maplin, useful when you don't have time to wait for delivery, or you can get a battery and o-ring delivered from Deep Blue Dive or Simply Scuba.

O-Rings

When an authorised dealer replaces a Suunto battery, they will also replace the o-ring. The Suunto battery kits contain this replacement o-ring as well. In My Opinion (disclaimer etc.) the battery o-ring will only need replacing every few years as it is not subjected to heat, hydrocarbons or high pressures. If you have a computer and are changing the battery yourself you're probably experienced enough to judge whether or not an o-ring needs replacing.

Storage

When Suunto computers are wet they display 'AC' (Active Contacts), they will not return to power saving mode when in AC mode. So dry your computer before storing it so your battery lasts longer. A quick blast of compressed air dries the contacts very effectively!

Over the course of a few dozen dives, a very small build up of salts and grime will make the contacts slightly conductive so the computer will stay in AC mode for 'longer then it did when new'. See the acids page for how to stop this!

Mosquito

This is a popular computer in UBUC but suffers from a short battery life which a couple of Mosquito users initially thought was a fault. Unfortunatly its down to Suunto's choice of battery. Fortunatly the upside to Suunto's choice of battery is its cost and ease of availability. I think they choose the 2032 because its small which keeps the Mosquito's size down to that of a normal sports watch.

This is the expected battery life from the Mosquito manual:

Vyper

These pictures are not intended to replace the manual, which is also available from Suunto's website. They are just to illustrate that this is an easy proceedure.

Step 1: Remove the case

Step 2: Remove short strap- It is crucial that you remove the shorter strap. It is almost possible to remove the locking cap below without removing this strap doing this could damage the locking cap. Use a thin item, like a knife blade to squash the watch stap pin.

Step 3: Locking ring- You only need to turn the locking ring through a few of degrees. When replacing it, be aware that it can be replaced 180 degrees rotated - you don't want to do that!

Step 4: - Backing cap (left) and locking ring

Step 5: Grease O-ring and reassemble- Rub a thin layer of silicone grease around that all important o-ring.

Alternatively you can send it to:

Matt Sydenham SUUNTO DIVING UK Unit H Farringdon Business Park Lower Farringdon Alton, Hampshire GU34 3DJ ENGLAND


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